Solid state scintillator and treatment therefor
US4783596A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 8, 1987 |
| Grant date | Nov 8, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 8, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01T1/1644
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A polycrystalline ceramic scintillator is disclosed for radiographic applications which has received a controlled oxidation anneal to reduce radiation damage otherwise occuring when said scintillator is exposed to X radiation during conversion of said X radiation to the display image. The particular ceramic material treated in said manner comprises a densely sintered rare earth doped gadolinia containing metal oxide having a cubic crystal structure which has been annealed after sintering in a controlled oxygen containing atmosphere. A preferred ceramic composition comprises from about 5 mole percent up to about 50 mole percent Gd.sub.2 O.sub.3, between about 0.5 mole percent and 12 mole percent of a rare earth activator oxide selected from the group consisting of Eu.sub.2 O.sub.3 and Nd.sub.2 O.sub.3, and between about 0.0001 and 0.5 mole percent of at least one afterglow reducer selected from the group consisting of Pr.sub.2 O.sub.3 and Tb.sub.2 O.sub.3, and the remainder of said composition being Y.sub.2 O.sub.3. A treatment to produce said improved x-ray conversion medium is also disclosed along with radiographic imaging systems and methods employing said improved x-ray image co…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.